Car buffing device.



T. L. MOKEEN. GAB. BUFFINGr DEVICE. APPLIUATION FILED .UG. e, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l n l l B Beferrin M56 tical cross webs a at Y STATES PATENTI onirica.y

To all whom it may concern: -Be itlmown that I', THoMAs L. MGKEEN, a citizen .of the United States, residing at Elastan, in the county State of Pennsy1van1a,have invented a new Ind useful Improvement in Car Builn Devioesmf which the following is a speci cation. This'inventio'n relates more articularly to -im ovements in friction bung' devices inten ed for 'application to the end sills of :freight cars for supplementing' the buiiin-g action of the draft gears. l The primary object of the invention is to roducea'strong and durable friction bulling evice which .ls of compact `construction it to be located ina hollow cast end sill' or striking block` of the usual dimensions, but which nevertheless offers a eat resistance and allows a long-travel o the drawbar.

. Another object of t-he'invention is to conf device so that it will be simple il j andinexpensive and permit the use o sity for a release spring, and also so that the 'parts can, be readily placed in and removed from the end sill or striking block,

and so that the springs' can be examined 80. and a broken spring replaced without disturbin the other parts.

. Int e `accompanying drawings, vconsistof two sheets: igure 1 is a fragmentary Sectional plan view of a freight car frame provided with a hollow-end sill and buing device embodying the invention.

2 is an elevation thereof, partly in section, in line 2-2, Fig. 1., Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation thereof.

40 Fig. 4 is a section thereof in line 4 4, Fig.

41. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the wed e blocks detached. Fig. 6 is a sec tional p an view of a bufling device of slightly modified construction. Fi 7 is 48 anelevation, artly in-section, thereo Fig. 8 Vis a central longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. reference cgaracters refer`to like .parte in the several res.

first to 1 5, A represents the end sil B and B respectively the cen1- ter Aand intermediate C 'the drawbar of a A hollow cast `steel end sill is s own having versuitable intervals for frei ht car.

' specification of teneri rama.1 Application #Jed August 9, 1909.

of Northampton and forged steel wedge and obviate the neces-v longitudinal sills, and4 serial no. 511,819.

strengthening it, and rovided with rear# wardly extending brac ets lor. portions a and a for the attachment of the longitudinal sills B and Bf. The cross webs a at the middle of the end sill form between t'hem a chamber aa in which the buing device, hereinafter described, is located and in closed. The brackets -a also have parts de pending below the end sill, 'the drawbar bemg confined laterally between these parts and supported by a cross-bai` connecting them. The buliing device ,is, however, adapted to be employed in V-h llow end sills of other construction or in hollowstriking blocks "of the sort lwhich are ordinarily secured to the end sills,

for the sills. A drawbar C or couplerof any usual or suitable construction may be employed which has ajrearwardly facing projection or shoulder c above the drawbar forengaging'and operating the buler. This projection 1s formed by the rear end of T-he inner end ofthe the usual drawhead. drawbar, as usual, is connected to a draft gearV (not shown) which may be of any desired construction. head or wedge which is arran togmove longitudinally of the car in the ufer cham- .ber aaoffth end sill withits outer end projectin'g through an opening ein the front wall of the sill so as to be struck and shoved inwardl by the projection lc of the drawf head w en the latter is pushed inwardl in buiing. The buierheador wedge pre erably consists of two like halves of steel forglngs having oppositely inclined faces e at their inner ends which bear against and are adapted to slide on correspondingly inclined faces on friction blocks F which are arranged at opposite sides ofthe wedge E and are movable laterally or crosswise of the car in t-he buffer chamber a.f Springs G, arranged between the friction blocks F y and the end walls of tle buffer chamber a,

press the frictionblocks against the friction 5 faces of the wedge E and yieldingly resist' the spreading of the friction blocks by the wed e when the latter is moved inwardly. Eac spring G preferably consists of two sets of 'bowed spring plates or leaves arranged with their concave faces toward each other and their opposite convex faces bearing respectively against the outer sides of the friction blocks and the end wallsv of the Patented Feb. c, 1912.

when solid metal I beams of channel or other shape are used E represents a 'buffer i B the other parts of the buffer.

buffer Vchamber a3. Leaf springs thus arranged have greater resisting capacity thanl size and occupy outward Amovement of the drawbar thanv portion of 15 would be possible the central the end sill were of the usualwidthbr had `a rearwardly projectingv portion at its middle. The described springs also allow .a greater lateral movement' of the friction blocks than if all of theleaves of each vspring were arranged the same way, and 'consequently'the pitch of the inclined faces of the wedge and friction blocks can be made great enough to insure the releasing of the wedge, thereby obviating the necessity for the usual coil release spring which would materiallyv increase the dimensions of the bufiing device and complicate its construc-l tion. I represents abolt, vthe head and a portion of the shank o f which are located in a recess formed by opposite cavities ,iin the inner sides of the twohalves ofthe wedge E, and which' extends rearwardly between the frictionl blocks' and closely through a hole in sill, being provided at its rearj end with a keyed nut c" or other securing means. This bolt limits the outward movement wedge andv prevents its escape from the opening ein thefront wall of the buffer chamber, thereby retaining the wedge-and friction blocks in place'. By. removing the nut the lwedge and sirable, and it is not necessary to provide retain the parts in the represent plates which are preferably placed between theends ofthe springs G and the plate K at the front or outerA end of each spring is removable through 'a slot 7c' in the top ofthe sill and, when in place, covers van opening k2 in chamber opposite the spring. By raising this plate K the spring can be seen and a.

broken leaf or leaves can be replaced through the opening k2 without disturbing vNotches 7c3 are shown inthe' lower ends of .these plates K in which an implement can be inserted for pryingthe plates upwardly.

Figs. 6 8 illustrate a construction 'in which a channel beamend-sill Af is e'I-n- 7e. ployed yand the butling device is arranged in thev hollow `l strikingbloclr ror casting L such as usually secured centrally'on the front side ofsills-ofthis sort. The butiing `device isv constructed and'arranged substantially as 75 above describedand as'shown in Figs.' 1-5, exceptv4 that the springs G 'are upreferably arrangedvertically on end instead 'of'hori- Zont'ally on their side'edgesf'as in the other construction, In Fig-@6558, Erepresents so the wedge, F. the {friet-,ion blocks', If the re- .taining'-bolt, andV K `the removable-plates coverin openings k* `inf-the front2 .wall of the stri ing block through' lwhichfac c'ess is had tothe springs.' The striking block in 85 ,this construction 1 formsin 'effect a vhollow'` middle portion of the end sill and the term end sill 'is used in some f of SV .the nclaims with suchmeaning.4 1, t 1 l claim as my inventioni f binationwith a drawbar; and ,an-.end sill having a hollow portion above Vthe''drawbar forming buffer chambenfof a wedge adapted to be moved inwardly :in said chamber by..the drawbarLfriction `blocks in said chamber on opposite sides Vof .said wedge and' adaptedv to Abe moved 'laterally the wedge,

the rear wall of..the.endi

of the" friction-blocks are .rel `leased and can be readily removed, throughv oever plates 'or parts on the front of theendsill and which are apt to be broken off, .tof

buffer chamber. K lc adjacent Walls of the buffer chamber a3 to take the wear oif of these walls! The 4wear the front wall of the buffer sprin s in said chambr-.on-opposite sides .of said 'ction-blocks'for-opposing the move- 100 nient 0f said friction."bl'ocksygand a device extending rearw'ardlyifY frol'rf. said wedge through .said harnber 'for retaining lthe wedge and friction blocksn place, substantially as set forth. i

2. In abuiing device'for' cars,the combination with a' drawbar,`.and a hollow member .abovethedrawbar forming a buffer chamber, of a wedge adapted to be moved linwardly in 'said chamber by thedrawbar 110 and consisting of s eparatehalves,friction blocks in saidA chamber on opposite sides .of said wedgev and adapted to b e moved laterally by the Wedgepringsin said chamber on opposite sides of said friction blocks for opposing the movementof said friction blocks, and ya bolt which `i's held between thev 'halves o f said wedge. and retains the wedge and friction blocks v`in place in `said u chamber, substantially asset forth.

3.*In a bul'ling device for cars, the combination with a drawbar, and a hollow memberabovethel drawbar forming a buffer `chamber and having an opening in the front wall thereof, of a wedge adapted to be moved inwardly in fslaid chamberby the drawbar and adapted to be removedA through said opening, friction blocks in said Achamber on opposite sides of said wedge and adapted to be moved laterally by the wedge,

and springs in said chamber for opposing laterally by the wedge, leaf springs arranged the movement of said friction blocks a'nd in said chamber at opposite sides of said each comprising a set of bowed spring plates friction blocks for opposing the movement which extend lengthwise with respect to the of said friction blocks, and a plate at one direction of movement of the wedge and are end of each of said springs which covers an held from endwise movement in said buffer' opening in the outer wall of said chamber chamber, and a retaining device for said and which is movable. to uncover said openwedge and friction blocks extending from ing to afford access to the spring, substansaid wedge rearwardly between said friction tially as set forth.

blocks, substantially as set forth. 6. In a bufing device for cars, the combi- 4. In a butling device for cars, the combination with a drawbar, and a hollow memnation with a drawbar, and an end sill havber above the drawbar forming a .buffer ing a h0llow- )ortion above the 4drawbar chamber, of a wedge adapted to be moved forming a bu er chamber which is coninwardly in said chamber by the drawbar,

tracted in width at its middle, of a wedge friction blocks in said chamber on oppositeada ted to be moved inwardly in said chamsides of said Wedge and'adapted to be moved ber y the drawbar, friction blocks arranged laterally by the wedge, leaf springs arranged at opposite sides of said wedge in the conin said chamber at opposite sides of said tracted middle port-ion of said chamber and friction blocks for opposin the movement adapted to be moved laterallyby the wedge, of said .friction blocks, an a plate at one and Vbowed leaf springs arranged in the wide end of each of said springs which covers an egel portions of said chamber with their conopening in the outer wall of said chamber ex sides bearing against said friction blocks and which is removable through a slot in for opposing the movement of said friction the top of said chamber to uncover said blocks, substantially as set forth. opening to afford access to the spring, sub- 5. In a buling device for cars, the combistant-ially as set forth. nation with a drawbar, and a hollow mem- Witness my hand, this 2d day of August, ber above the drawbar forming a buffer 1909. chamber, of a wedge adapted to be moved THOMAS L. MCKEEN. inwardly inl said chamber by the drawbar, Witnesses:

friction blocks in said chamber on opposite C. W. PARKER,

sides of said wedge and adapted to be moved C. B. HORNBECK.

It is hereby certified 'that in Letters Patent No. 1,016,702, granted February 6,

1912, upon the application ot' Thomas L. McKeen, vof Easton, Pennsylvania, for i aai-improvement in Car Bufiing Devices, an error appears in the printed speci- 4fin-cation requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 34, for the word closely read loosely; and that the said Letters `Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice..

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of April, A. D., 1912. l [SEALQ] l l i C. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

and springs in said chamber for opposing laterally by the wedge, leaf springs arranged the movement of said friction blocks a'nd in said chamber at opposite sides of said each comprising a set of bowed spring plates friction blocks for opposing the movement which extend lengthwise with respect to the of said friction blocks, and a plate at one direction of movement of the wedge and are end of each of said springs which covers an held from endwise movement in said buffer' opening in the outer wall of said chamber chamber, and a retaining device for said and which is movable. to uncover said openwedge and friction blocks extending from ing to afford access to the spring, substansaid wedge rearwardly between said friction tially as set forth.

blocks, substantially as set forth. 6. In a bufing device for cars, the combi- 4. In a butling device for cars, the combination with a drawbar, and a hollow memnation with a drawbar, and an end sill havber above the drawbar forming a .buffer ing a h0llow- )ortion above the 4drawbar chamber, of a wedge adapted to be moved forming a bu er chamber which is coninwardly in said chamber by the drawbar,

tracted in width at its middle, of a wedge friction blocks in said chamber on oppositeada ted to be moved inwardly in said chamsides of said Wedge and'adapted to be moved ber y the drawbar, friction blocks arranged laterally by the wedge, leaf springs arranged at opposite sides of said wedge in the conin said chamber at opposite sides of said tracted middle port-ion of said chamber and friction blocks for opposin the movement adapted to be moved laterallyby the wedge, of said .friction blocks, an a plate at one and Vbowed leaf springs arranged in the wide end of each of said springs which covers an egel portions of said chamber with their conopening in the outer wall of said chamber ex sides bearing against said friction blocks and which is removable through a slot in for opposing the movement of said friction the top of said chamber to uncover said blocks, substantially as set forth. opening to afford access to the spring, sub- 5. In a buling device for cars, the combistant-ially as set forth. nation with a drawbar, and a hollow mem- Witness my hand, this 2d day of August, ber above the drawbar forming a buffer 1909. chamber, of a wedge adapted to be moved THOMAS L. MCKEEN. inwardly inl said chamber by the drawbar, Witnesses:

friction blocks in said chamber on opposite C. W. PARKER,

sides of said wedge and adapted to be moved C. B. HORNBECK.

It is hereby certified 'that in Letters Patent No. 1,016,702, granted February 6,

1912, upon the application ot' Thomas L. McKeen, vof Easton, Pennsylvania, for i aai-improvement in Car Bufiing Devices, an error appears in the printed speci- 4fin-cation requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 34, for the word closely read loosely; and that the said Letters `Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice..

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of April, A. D., 1912. l [SEALQ] l l i C. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Lettersy Patent No. 1,016,702.

It is hereby certified 'that in Lettere Patent No. 1,016,702, granted February 6,

1912` upon the appiiention oi- Thomas L. LIcKeen, of Easton, Pennsylvania, for

am improvement in Car Bufng Devices, :in error appears in the printed spe-ofication requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 3.4, for the word closely read ansah and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Petent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of April, A. D., 1912.

A[SEAL] i C. o. mLLINGs,

Acting Commissioner (gf Iatwzts. 

